The South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF) has made an urgent appeal to the Sri Lankan government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to ensure the immediate and safe return of six fishermen from Kanyakumari who were detained by the Sri Lankan navy. The fishermen were apprehended after their boat drifted into the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) due to a technical failure.
Chief Minister's Intervention
Chief Minister Vijay wrote to Minister Jaishankar, informing him that six fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Tuesday. He also highlighted that 54 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are already in Sri Lankan prisons, and 264 boats have been impounded by Sri Lankan authorities. The Chief Minister requested the Union government to take up the matter through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detained fishermen and their boats at the earliest.
Details of the Detained Fishermen
The six fishermen have been identified as Alex, Anthonirajan, Santhana Aloysius, Arul Das Britto, Alfred, and Sahaya Selvasanu, all hailing from Melmanakudi in Kanyakumari district. They were operating out of Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district. After setting sail in a country boat on May 10, the group failed to return as scheduled the following day. This prompted a joint search operation by the Indian Coast Guard and local fishing communities. It was later confirmed that the crew had been rescued and subsequently detained by the Sri Lankan navy near Negombo.
Humanitarian Appeal
SAFF General Secretary Churchill emphasized that the breach of the maritime boundary was unintentional, caused solely by an engine malfunction and heavy sea currents, rather than a deliberate attempt to poach. The organization requested that the Sri Lankan authorities treat the incident as a humanitarian case rather than a criminal one, urging them to release the men without filing formal charges or resorting to imprisonment. Churchill further called upon the state and central governments to intervene diplomatically to facilitate a swift repatriation process on goodwill grounds.
The incident has heightened tensions among fishing communities in the region, who frequently face challenges due to the porous maritime border. The SAFF continues to advocate for the safety and rights of fishermen, emphasizing the need for humane treatment and swift resolution of such cases.
